The Bellarine will light up this March when UK saxophone phenom Tom Waters joins one of Australia’s premier guitarists, Geoff Achison.
Part of their 17-date Brush With the Blues tour of the east coast, the duo will be joined by Achison’s regular band the Algo-Rhythms – Rob Dabbs (bass), Dean Matters (drums) and Richard Tankard (keys) – at the Bellarine Estate on Saturday, March 8.
Achison needs no introduction for Australian blues lovers, having been a driving force in the national blues and roots scene and electrifying listeners with his blistering guitar work for three decades.
But the tour will serve as the country’s introduction to Waters, who at 24 has already been lighting up the UK scene with his facility and unique voice on the saxophone.
Waters, son of renowned UK boogie-woogie pianist Ben Waters, may be young but he has already shared the stage with the likes of the Rolling Stones, Jules Holland, George Thorogood and Chanel Haynes.
Achison said Waters had “the X factor” and had charmed audiences through the first week of the tour.
“I think the thing every musician is going for, what we’re all striving to find, is that uniquely identifiable sound,” Achison said.
“When BB King comes on the radio, you don’t have to ask who it is; you instantly know. And Tom has got this tone that he’s blasting through that horn… it’s so strong, just these beautiful round notes and cascading lines.
“Immediately as he starts playing, it’s like wow, this is exciting. This kid’s got something special, and I’m just loving seeing audiences react to his playing from his first solo in the first song of the set.”
The two met in 2019 when Waters and his father joined Achison on stage during his tour of the UK, and when Waters was setting up the Brush With the Blues tour Achison was first on his list.
“I never thought he’d say yes, but he did and it’s just been so much fun so far,” Waters said.
“Him having a bit more experience, he’s just so relaxed about everything. It’s so easy playing with him, there are very free guitarists who could come close to him, and the whole band are fantastic musicians.”
Tom Waters and Geoff Achison are at the Bellarine Estate on Saturday, March 8.
